Plywood cutting table

[Jack Clay]

I need a run off table for my table saw and I need a table to cut 4x8 sheet goods. So I was wondering about combining them. Dose anyone have pictures of tables they use to cut plywood on? I thought I could use my table saw for support so I do not need it to be 8 feet long. I would only use it for cross cuts because I am already set up with my table saw to rip full sheets.

[Jerome Hanby]

This is a picture from the FWW article on which I based mine.

The article was in July/August 2000 issue. I grabbed it off of FWW WWW, but darned if I can found it now. Guess the parinoia that caused me to save all of those pdfs paid off :D.

That picture was really all there was to go on in the article. The banquet table legs are about $16 from one of the borgs, the rest is just half laps in common 2x4s. Keep the screws low enough that you can cut into the surface of the table without hitting them. Have the legs in hand before you lay out the cross members. If you don't have them in the correct position you'll have to apply some plywood to be able to mount the legs.

Found the www (http://www.thewoodshop.20m.com/panel_cutting_table.htm) that had the layout for the table (and I think refers back to FWW).

[Greg Cole]

Foamboard insulation on any old flat spot.
Make an outfeed table to match the height of your TS & when you use it to crosscut ply, just toss the foamboard on the top and cut away (just be midful of depth of cut).

[Matt Meiser]

I've found the banquet table legs to be a less-than-ideal solution. They start out great, but over time they get bent up. If you take a look at the banquet tables the next time you are at function at a church you'll see that its a common problem. The problem really lies in the design of the legs. All the force comes down near the middle of the arches that form the feet. The tubing is weakened there by having the uprights welded on plus its really thin to start with. My next table will probably end up having shop-made metal legs of some sort. I've been looking for a better commercially available solution, but haven't found one yet.

[harry strasil]

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=115136

[Prashun Patel]

My humble suggestion is to make your outfeed table 4x4 and then make a knockdown plywood cutting deck that can sit on top of the outfeed table and table saw like Harry posted or like this

http://www.davehylands.com/Wood-Working/Knock-Down-Cutting-Grid/

The deck should really be 4x8 to provide proper support for plywood - even on x cuts. Making a permanent outfeed table that's this big is a waste of space. Further, the deck is designed to be cut into; an outfeed table doesn't require that.

[David Bridgeman]

I have a small basement shop so I try to cut my plywood as I bring it home. The base is an old blood donor bed that was disposed of by the Red Cross many years ago. The grid is just construction plywood left over from shed. It works great especially with the DeWalt Track Saw (gloat). The cuts are near finished most times.

I don't think this will work for your outfeed table though. Too many place to catch material.

[Matt Day]

I like the insulation board suggestion Greg, great idea!

[David G Baker]

I use two sawhorses, 2ea 8 foot 2x4s, sheet of 1/2" OSB and a sheet of 1" blue foam board. I lay the 2x4s between the sawhorses, lay the sheet of OSB on top of the 2x4s, screw the OSB to the 2x4s and lay the foam board on top. I adjust the blade depth so it just clears the material being cut so I don't cut the foam too deep. When I am done I take the set-up apart and store it.

[Rick Gooden]

My remedy is a guided rail system, using the TS fence as a stop. Works very well for crosscut. Rail is easily installed or removed.

[Jerome Hanby]

My remedy is a guided rail system, using the TS fence as a stop. Works very well for crosscut. Rail is easily installed or removed.

That looks very nice! What keeps you from cutting into the table?

[Rick Gooden]

Actually, I do cut into the table. It's about 1/4" and at the same place every time, so it is no problem, and I knew I would when I built it.

[Karl Brogger]

If you have a tablesaw, and you already rip full sheats on it, why not cross cut them as well on the tablesaw?

[David G Baker]

Karl B,
I did exactly that when I was young and in my prime but at the age 65 I have problems handling 4x8 sheets of 3/4" material on my table saw but I still do it on occasion. :o

[Rick Gooden]

I'm with you there David. If I need to rip full length I set up the saw horses. I just don't feel as though I can wrestle full sheets safely thru a spinning blade. Rarely do I ever use a full length piece of plywood.

[Craig Coney]

I have two versions that I use. The first one I built, was from Wood magazine, with the collapsable saw horses and grid pattern top.

The second route I went was using adjustable height sawhorses, two box beams, and one sheet of 3/4" MDF and place a piece of 1 1/2" foam on top to cut into using my festool saw. The top of the MDF is the same height as my TS, work bench, and planer/ sander carts, so I can add to the assembly table size if I need to. I can also raise the height if I need to for comfort.

I prefer the later, it offers more stability and options. I can use it as an assembly table as well. It breaks down and both are easy to store. The first one takes less space to store.

[Bruce Wrenn]

I built my version of the one in FWW about eight years ago. I have ripped hundreds of sheets of plywood on it. I also use it to spray finishes on it. I'm on my third set of top pieces, and soon need to be on my fourth. For the long rails, I originally used 1 X 4's. after a couple of these cracked, I now use a piece of 3/4" exterior grade plywood that is 3 1/2" tall. My table is about 3' wide, and a little less than seven feet long. Length is so it will fit into my trailer. Seldom do I carry a set of saw horses to the job site, as I use my cutting bench for most everything. Lower parts of banquet table legs do get bent occassionally, but I take conduit hickey and bend them back. Used to find the old particle board tables regularly, that I would rob leg sets from. But the new plastic ones don't delaminate when they get wet- boo, hiss!

[Jerome Hanby]

Actually, I do cut into the table. It's about 1/4" and at the same place every time, so it is no problem, and I knew I would when I built it.

So the rail is actually mounted to the table and you slide the sheet goods underneath it? Pretty sweet. Almost like a radial arm saw with a HUGE arm.

Prepare to be shameless copied:D

[Kevin L. Pauba]

That's a nice outfeed (crossfeed?) table for your power bench! :)